No, How Can an Atheist Become a Saintess!?

No, How Can an Atheist Become a Saintess!? – 7

EP.7

Chapter 1

Candidate and Candidate (7)

Anna wasn’t exactly known for having the best reputation around the convent, often making strange remarks that didn’t sit well with everyone. But in this case, it was clear she hadn’t done anything wrong. After all, it was Chae-eun who had grabbed her wrist and pulled her along, and it was Chae-eun who had bluntly asked in front of everyone.

The Mother Superior glanced back and forth between Anna and Chae-eun. Anna wore a detached smile, one that almost looked like her spirit had drifted somewhere far away. Chae-eun wondered if that smile was some kind of defense mechanism. Seeing Anna like that, the Mother Superior sighed deeply and spoke in a gentle voice.

“Sister Anna, why don’t you go back to your room for now.”

“Yes, Mother Superior.”

Anna replied, her voice a bit stiff. She walked toward the dormitory with an equally stiff gait, while the other nuns, uncertain whether to laugh or look concerned, moved aside to let her pass.

“And… Sister Maria.”

The Mother Superior glared at Chae-eun.

“Follow me.”

The other nuns held their breath at her tone, but Chae-eun didn’t flinch. While she did feel a twinge of guilt over Anna’s reaction, she couldn’t deny there was a sense of relief as well. Anna was entertaining, but she sometimes seemed a bit too absorbed in her own world.

The Mother Superior led her to the same counseling room they’d been to before. After offering Chae-eun a seat, she brought over a teapot and cups, setting one in front of Chae-eun and one for herself before sitting across from her.

“Sister, may I ask what was going through your mind with that behavior just now?”

“Well, you see…”

Chae-eun, unfazed, replied,

“It’s just… sometimes people get strange ideas and make odd judgments. I thought someone needed to set things straight, you know?”

Chae-eun had immediately recognized those recruiters. She didn’t know their faces, but their distinct aura gave them away. Though they’d never approached her, a few of her fellow trainees had been scouted and even joined those associations. In fact, Chae-eun already had a few friends training under association sponsorships.

“Sister, do you remember the conversation we had when you first joined the convent?”

“I remember.”

Chae-eun exhaled lightly.

“You told me that if I could change the mind of the saintess candidate and get her to stay a bit longer in the Church… you’d talk to my father about getting me out of here.”

A hero candidate.

Though the Church would prefer to keep such a promising talent within its fold, true heroes rarely stayed under the Church’s jurisdiction.

Spending one’s entire life as a nun is no easy task, something most people would find daunting. The same goes for positions like monks or priests. To live a life of asceticism, despite the chance to use such talents and earn so well, is a demanding choice. It’s often more manageable to work in a capacity associated with the Church but without being an insider.

If this “saintess candidate” in the cathedral—Anna, that is—had shown genuine devotion, the Church might have considered recruiting Chae-eun through her influence. But the issue was that this so-called saintess candidate seemed to view the Church as little more than a convenient tool.

However, Anna claimed she’d only be around for a year or two before leaving. For many, the role of saint or saintess was a highly desirable one. While it did require an ascetic lifestyle, those blessed with such power typically possessed a deeply rooted faith.

Would someone with unwavering faith refuse the position of saint or saintess candidate?

Anna, however, the Church’s first “saintess candidate,” had reportedly made several comments outright denying the existence of God. There were stories about a furious cardinal nearly excommunicating her before others intervened. There were also rumors that this cathedral had a nun with divine power capable of saving even those on the brink of death, and that someone had even claimed to see God firsthand.

Yet, such information was often fragmented, hard to piece together coherently. Anna had a playful appearance, denied God, yet possessed the strongest divine power among all saintess candidates.

For hunters, information is paramount, and they rigorously train to filter out useless information; in a monster’s presence, a single misconception could mean losing one’s life or limbs. To Chae-eun, the rumors around Anna seemed utterly pointless.

But after meeting Anna in person…

“Still… if she’s so firmly against it, is there any reason to keep her tied to the Church?”

After meeting Anna several times, Chae-eun’s thoughts began to change. Anna often spouted strange ideas and flimsy logic, stirring up trouble, occasionally loud and bothersome. She was sometimes noisy, modified her nun’s habit, dyed her hair, and lived as she pleased. Although there were times when the power of the God she claimed not to believe in shone around her, Chae-eun had seen similar light from other saintess candidates.

When she joined the convent, the Mother Superior had proposed the idea to her, but honestly, whether she succeeded or not, her rigid father would surely sulk for a good while. So she thought, why not just let Anna live as she wished? It might make things a bit less boring.

As for the recruiters, well, clerics who could heal severe injuries were always in demand. And a saintess candidate—well, even with minimal abilities, they were worlds apart from ordinary clerics. Such talent being at risk of leaving? Of course, they’d be scrambling. No doubt they’d heard the rumors too.

“……”

The Mother Superior took a sip of her tea, pausing before responding to Chae-eun’s question.

“Sister.”

After a long pause, the Mother Superior finally spoke.

“I don’t particularly like putting it this way,”

The Mother Superior began, her voice soft yet measured.

“But Sister, you’ve only been here with Anna for less than a week.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Chae-eun replied, shrugging as if it were no big deal. The Mother Superior nodded, her tone taking on a more serious note.

“I have known her for fifteen years. I’ve seen what Anna is capable of, and what she has already done.”

“……”

Chae-eun found herself momentarily speechless. It was hard to imagine, given what she’d observed so far, but what could she say in response to someone who had fifteen years of insight?

“I truly believe in her. Sister Anna has a faith more sincere than anyone I’ve ever met—yes, even more so than myself or the priests. For some reason, she just keeps denying it to herself.”

This, too, seemed like an impossible claim to accept without witnessing it firsthand.

“So recently, I tried a bit of a half-hearted ultimatum with her: stay here a while longer, or leave at once. Didn’t make much of a difference, though.”

In truth, assigning Chae-eun to Anna wasn’t because the Mother Superior or the priest fully trusted Chae-eun—it was at her father’s request. He wanted her to be placed next to someone devout to correct her behavior. That’s why Chae-eun had eventually shouted in protest, then reluctantly accepted the Mother Superior’s request.

“If you feel so strongly, I’ll do my best to help.”

Chae-eun sighed, her shoulders sinking.

“Anna’s just so stubborn, though… you know that, right?”

The Mother Superior gave a bittersweet smile. There wasn’t much left to discuss; they both knew what they wanted, yet neither could change the situation on their own.

The room settled into silence as they sipped their tea, the quiet interrupted by a sudden, urgent knock at the door.

Knock, knock.

[Mother Superior!]

The voice outside sounded alarmed.

[Mother Superior, there’s an injured person! He’s on the brink of death!]

The Mother Superior rose instantly, and Chae-eun, caught off guard, scrambled to follow. The Mother Superior swiftly crossed the room and flung the door open to reveal a young nun, panting and catching her breath.

“Where is Sister Anna—”

“She’s already on her way there!”

“Understood. I’ll join her immediately. Sister, please return to your room.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Sending the nun back to her room, the Mother Superior turned to Chae-eun.

“Sister Maria, this is a good chance. Would you like to see what Sister Anna is truly capable of?”

Chae-eun blinked in surprise.

*

Chae-eun had never seen the Mother Superior run before. Although it was a pace she could easily match, she knew the urgency must be great if the Mother Superior was moving so quickly.

Their destination was deep within the church—a literal descent down to the basement. When they arrived, Anna and the priest were already by the wounded man, along with some older nuns and what appeared to be the injured man’s companions, who had likely helped carry him.

Surprisingly, the man wasn’t drenched in blood. His clothes were shredded and the ends soaked with blood, yet his wounds were unnervingly clean. It looked as though they had been washed with holy water, but the injuries were festering, black and decayed. Although Chae-eun hadn’t seen this type of wound firsthand, she recognized it from her studies: some gates weren’t only dangerous due to powerful enemies but were filled with deadly toxins.

Just one look, and Chae-eun knew it was hopeless. The decay spread so quickly she could almost see it advancing. Despite the holy water, the wounds refused to heal. The man wouldn’t last another hour—his body was covered in lacerations that left no place for extreme measures like amputation.

“You’re lucky. It’ll be alright.”

Said Anna, kneeling beside him. Her tone was calm, almost reassuring.

Chae-eun blinked. Was Anna just offering some comfort for the man’s last moments? But then, Anna did something utterly unlike any behavior Chae-eun had seen from her before.

With solemnity, Anna knelt and extended both hands. Her veil had slipped off at some point, perhaps from running here. Sweat dampened her temples and neck, causing her hair to cling to her skin.

“Don’t worry. You’ll be fine, brother.”

Anna spoke calmly, even with a hint of a smile.

And then—

There was light.

Many people believe that divine power is proof of God’s existence. This belief is valid. While God has never directly called Himself God, those who feel His presence most strongly can use His power most effectively.

Anna—the saintess candidate who had denied God—was now using such power. And it wasn’t just a mere demonstration of proof; it was a radiant presence that filled everyone with conviction. The light carried an intensity that seemed capable of purging any evil from existence, reaching a depth and clarity Chae-eun had never witnessed in all her encounters with holy people.

The once-shadowed basement was bathed in brilliant light, and for a fleeting moment, Chae-eun felt as though she stood beneath the sun on a clear summer day.

Gradually, the light dimmed, retreating into Anna’s hands as if returning to its rightful place. By the time it faded entirely, Chae-eun found herself wishing it had lingered just a bit longer.

“…….”

Silence filled the room.

“…Ah!”

The wounded man, who had been at death’s door just moments earlier, let out a breath. Only then did Chae-eun notice that all his wounds were gone.

“…Thank you.”

Someone muttered quietly.

“Thank you.”

“Thank God.”

It was a familiar voice, one that sounded as if it had witnessed such a miracle before.

“Everything’s going to be alright now.”

Guided by Anna’s gentle voice, Chae-eun looked down again. Anna, kneeling beside the man who had yet to fully regain consciousness, rested a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“…Saintess.”

“….”

“May God’s blessing be upon you, Saintess.”

“And upon you, brother.”

As Anna spoke, Chae-eun could only stare in stunned silence. Anna rose, as if her task here was finished. Most of those in the room had fallen to their knees, whispering prayers of gratitude.

They were offering their thanks to God, after all, for it was by His power that Anna could heal the man.

……

Chae-eun felt something strange.

Anna glanced over her shoulder at the Mother Superior, who nodded back with a slight bow. Their eyes met briefly, and Anna shrugged as if it were nothing, her forehead damp with sweat. Then, she turned and left the dim basement without a word.

A lingering unease tugged at Chae-eun. Almost as if in a trance, she turned and hurried after Anna.

“Wait.”

She caught up just as Anna reached the top of the stairs and lightly grabbed her arm.

“Yes?”

Anna looked back, slightly surprised, and Chae-eun immediately blurted out her question.

“You said you don’t believe in God.”

“Oh… to be precise, I don’t see that presence up there as a god. But close enough, I guess. I think it’s more of a vague concept.”

Chae-eun let out an incredulous laugh.

“Then… what was that just now?”

“Probably the power of that presence up there.”

“…”

Chae-eun stared at Anna, momentarily speechless.

“What?”

“What do you mean, ‘What’…?”

Chae-eun struggled to put her thoughts together, finally managing to speak.

“If that’s what you believe… Then why did you heal him? You’ve always brushed off those beams of light, dismissing them as meaningless.”

“Well, yes. That belief is part of my pride, my self-respect, you know.”

“Then?”

“Then?”

Anna tilted her head in genuine confusion, as if she couldn’t understand why Chae-eun was asking such a thing.

“If it’s about pride and self-respect… What’s the reason for doing something like that?”

“Does tending to my pride make his wounds heal on their own?”

“…Oh.”

“If I just took care of my pride, do you think that guy would have magically healed himself and jumped to his feet? Honestly, I wish that were true. Then I’d get to keep my pride, too.”

“…”

“If swallowing a bit of pride can save someone’s life, what’s the big deal? It’s not like pride is some priceless treasure.”

Chae-eun had no response.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake.”

Seeing another beam of light aimed at her, Anna frowned, waving it off irritably.

As Chae-eun released her hold, Anna turned back toward the dormitory.

“Ugh, seriously…!”

Now, with light beginning to radiate directly around her head, Anna stopped and started twirling her head as if trying to shake it off. Objectively, it was a ridiculous sight—but Chae-eun found she couldn’t bring herself to laugh so easily.

She finally understood what the Mother Superior had meant.